It can be hard to keep track of all the Fuente OpusX cigars out there, and even harder to find them available for purchase. Those in the Heaven and Earth series are among the rarest. These are hand-picked from Fuente’s aged tobacco vaults and feature the very best tobacco that Chateau Fuente has to offer. Each one is a bit different, but if you’re trying to tell one from the other, the series includes a few core blends: Scorpio, BBMF, Tauros the Bull, and Rare Black.

For this listing, Scorpio is the sign of Fuente family patriarch Arturo, who was born on November 18th. This was also the date the very first boxes of Fuente Fuente OpusX were shipped to America. (These cigars are not to be confused with the Forbidden X “El Escorpion” blend, which has a Salomon-type shape that sets it quite apart from other Heaven and Earth offerings).

Not a bad coincidence, eh?

As for the cigar, the Arturo Fuente Aged Selection FFOX Heaven and Earth Scorpio Maduro is a wonderful smoke. Unsurprisingly, the almost black wrapper delivers a pepper sting and follows up with earth and rich dark chocolate notes. The shape is a beautifully rolled parejo, with straight sides and a simple rounded head, enabling cigar lovers to focus on the smoke itself.

Arturo Fuente Aged Selection FFOX Heaven and Earth Scorpio Maduro cigars are offered in boxes of ten, each crafted by the high-end cigar accessory master artisans at Prometheus. It’s an outstanding presentation of some of Fuente’s rarest and most prized blends, perfect for giving as a gift or for treating yourself if you’re an OpusX hound.

Slip off the purple foot ribbon and light up a gourmet smoke fit for the most special of occasions.

(Please note that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Arturo Fuente Aged Selection FFOX Heaven and Earth Scorpio Maduro is donated to the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, which strives to improve the lives of children in need in the Bonao region of the Dominican Republic.)

- What are the flavors like? Black pepper and rich earthy dark chocolate.

- What’s the strength level? Full.

- Who is this cigar for? The Arturo Fuente Aged Selection FFOX Heaven and Earth Scorpio Maduro is blended for OpusX lovers who prefer the darker side of Chateau Fuente.

- Will I want to smoke it to the nub? At this price, we hope so!

- What’s a good pairing with it? A really nice scotch (Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Year is amazing) or a favorite dark beer (Brownie Hunter from Wilde Child) would make fast friends with the Scorpio Maduro cigar.

- What’s the best time/place to smoke this cigar? Any special occasion (or simply when you’re nursing a bad sting and want good medicine).

- Any flaws/downsides? Price.